"Kargath!" Arthas roared in a low voice, charging forward with his longsword. Even when facing a Heroic Tier enemy, he possessed a courage that embraced death. No matter how powerful the enemy, as long as he maintained his courage, he could overcome them!
"Ding! Quest triggered: The sequential quest 'Draenor's Seven Chumps'."
"Draenor's Seven Chumps I: In your eyes, the so-called Draenor's Seven Champions are nothing. You want to conquer the sea of stars, but what conquest can you speak of if you can't even defeat the Orcs?
Objective: Defeat Kargath of the Shattered Hand clan.
Reward: Ardent Defender advances, and the next quest is unlocked."
With a quest triggered, Arthas became even more frenzied. In Kargath's eyes, however, with his veteran gladiator's insight, Arthas was full of openings. But he didn't act rashly. He had been observing Arthas for a long time and found this human prince to be extremely cunning, even possessing a completely new fighting style.
His defensive talent was almost like that of an iron tortoise. He was clearly full of openings, yet each one was a death trap. Attacking an opening would result in a counterattack. This was clearly a bait-and-switch!
Clang! Kargath raised his blade-arm and clashed with Arthas. He ended up taking a few steps back. This collision was considered an attack, and not only was his own force reflected back, but it was combined with Arthas's Holy Light attack, creating a powerful rebound.
Swoosh! A stray arrow flew toward him. Arthas blocked it with his shield, and the reflected force made an Orc archer scream as the arrow shot back and blew out both his eyes!
"Good chance!" Kargath exploited the momentary opening as Arthas counterattacked, stabbing his blade directly at his opponent's heart.
Clang! The whistling blade was blocked. A longsword had somehow appeared to block the hilt of the blade. Although it didn't completely defend against the attack, and the tip of the blade had pierced the armor, it couldn't advance another inch.
"What a pity!"
Kargath wasn't greedy. He withdrew and continued to search for Arthas's openings, like a seasoned hunter toying with his prey, waiting for it to tire and reveal a weakness before delivering a fatal blow!
Swoosh! The sound of whistling wind approached.
Arthas sidestepped a boulder falling from the sky and swung his shield hard against his side. The reflected force sent him staggering back, his blood churning. In the distance, the catapult that was being loaded by Orc soldiers suddenly fell apart.
The powerful Clefthoof Tendon snapped, slicing a long, thin gash across several Orc soldiers, severing their arms completely!
"Argh!" Screams rang out as several Orcs collapsed limply. No one paid any attention to the wounded. If it was a light wound, it wasn't considered an injury at all. A serious wound? Then they could just wait for death.
There was no point in treating them, nor were there the means to do so. Witch Doctors seemed versatile, but in reality, they were jacks-of-all-trades and masters of none, unable to provide effective healing.
Warlocks? They were fine for killing and arson, but saving people? Dream on!
A good chance! As Arthas was continuously pushed back, Kargath closed in again, rushing forward with incredibly swift steps that left only a trail of afterimages. The blade in his hand cut through the air, producing a sharp hissing sound, as if the air itself was being split in two, creating a brief vacuum!
A mocking smile touched the corner of Arthas's lips. He raised his longsword again, and a hammer of Holy Light descended from the sky, smashing down hard on Kargath's head. The sudden hammer strike stunned him, leaving him no time to react. It was a targeted ability!
Taking three Goblin Landmines from his storage ring, Arthas stuffed them onto Kargath's body and quickly retreated.
By the time he was at a safe distance, Kargath had recovered and was about to remove the strange objects from his body when a gleaming golden shield flew toward him, striking him. The Goblin Landmines were triggered!
Boom! Kargath was engulfed in a ball of fire. The force of the gunpowder explosion sent him flying.
His formidable body wasn't torn apart, but it was covered in wounds. The tangible rage he projected had given him a small amount of protection, at least saving him from losing any limbs.
Just as Arthas was about to give chase, a group of similarly one-armed Orcs charged forward with roars, blocking his path. These Orcs of the Shattered Hand clan would never allow their chieftain to be killed!
Swoosh! A longsword suddenly appeared out of thin air, lopping off an Orc's head. Then, using the momentum of the downward slash, the wielder changed his stance and stabbed straight through another Orc's heart. A powerfully built, green-skinned Orc wearing a demonic mask and carrying the banner of the Burning Blade Clan appeared! It was none other than his follower, the Orc Blademaster, Samuro!
"Master, leave this to me!"
Samuro had just arrived. Tasked with protecting Arthas, he saw his master's divine might on the battlefield and naturally didn't want to be left behind. He had to ensure his master's safety!
Samuro had been brainwashed. He believed Arthas's words were very effective. Orcs were a race that revered martial prowess and honor. Only by beating them into submission could the Demon Blood be purged and the Orcs be saved.
To do this, the first step was to kill all who resisted, washing away the shame of being controlled by demons in a river of blood!
Arthas pressed his advantage, catching up to Kargath and giving him a sound thrashing. Even with the Shattered Hand clan Orcs desperately trying to save him, he fully utilized his defensive reflection to take them down one by one. His stamina was draining rapidly, and the longsword in his hand felt heavier and heavier.
As another Orc fell, Arthas heard a delightful notification.
"Ding! Level up. Current Level: Thirty-nine."
With the attribute increase from leveling up, his health and mana were fully restored, and his stamina completely recovered. It was as if he had taken an aphrodisiac; he was hard as a rock again!
"Kargath, die!" Arthas's smile was utterly savage. With one slash per Orc, he cut down those who stood in his way, his handsome face, now stained with blood, looking like that of a demon.
"Kargath, surrender! The Horde has been defiled! This is not honor! Submit to His Highness, and the Orcs will surely find salvation!" Samuro, unable to bear the death of such a valiant Orc warrior, tried to persuade him.
Kargath was extremely weak and on the verge of collapse.
"Haha! You want me to submit? Dream on!"
A thought flashed through Arthas's mind. The Orcs' combat capabilities were indeed excellent. He would not allow the Horde to re-emerge, nor would he let the Alliance develop. There were too many people with ulterior motives; it was better to have one strong voice to unite and lead effectively.